Incubator.



No- 830,339. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

' G. H.- LEE.

INCUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.2, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 880,339. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

G. H. LEE. INGUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00m, mos.

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No. 880,339. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

GQH. LEE. I NGUBATOR.

APPLIUATIOH FILED 0012, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENT GFFIOE.

GEORGE HOWVARD LEE; OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

INCUBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed October 2, 1905. Serial No. 280,943.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HowARn LEE,

- a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Omaha, in the countyof Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and ImprovedIncubator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to incubators.

The object of the invention is to improve the circulation of the warmair and ventilation of the eggs during incubation.

Further objects of the invention are to render the heating of the eggsmore uniform and to provide improved means for supporting the eggs inthe egg-tray.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth .in theclaims.

' fra mentar )lan of a orti on of a dia )hra m t) y b 7 showing aventilating device-therein. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through thebody of an incubator, showing a modified construction, certain partsbeing broken away, as will appear; and Fig. 5 is a verticalcross-section through the body shown in Fig. 4, certain parts beingbroken away.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the body of theincubator, which is of common form, consisting, substantially, .of a boxthe walls and cover of which are formed with packing-spaces for anon-conductor, the interior of the said body being heated by a lamp 2,supported, preferably, at one end of the incubator, as indicated. Thegases of combustion from this lamp pass upwardly through a jacketedchimney 3 and communicate with a horizontal flue 4, which passescompletely through the body of the incubator, emerging through theopposite wall, as indicated in Fig. 1. This hot-air flue passes througha diffuser or heater 5, which supplies the heat to the interior of theincubator. This heater or diffuser preferably consists of an elongatedsleeve 6, which surrounds the hot-air flue 1, as indicated most clearlyin Fig. 2. The construction of this diffuser is very clearly explainedin a patent on a brooder, the application for which was filed by me onNovember 16, 1904, Serial No. 232,968. At the sides of the diffuserIprovide longitud.inally-disposed deflectors or deflecting-boards 7,which are disposed in inclined position, with their outer edgesdepressed, as indicated. The front of the incubator-body is providedwith a door 8, adapted to be opened to give access to the egg-tray 9,said egg-tray being supported upon cleats 10, which are fixed to the endwalls, as indi- 1 cated most clearly in Fig. 1.

The egg-tray 9 comprises side bars 11 and transverse slats 12, betweenwhich the eggs are adapted to be supported in the usual manner. Thefaces of the cleats 10 are formed with rabbets 13, which enable a clothscreen 14 to be supported just beneath the eggs, as indicated, the saidcloth screen comprising a rectangular frame 15, which is adapted to heslid into positionfrom the front, as will be readily understood. Whenapplied in the manner suggested, the upper face of the cloth of thescreen lies against the under side of the egg-tray, substantiallyresting against the slats 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The cloth of thisscreen consists, preferably, of flannel or similar coarse fabric.

Upon the end walls, above the egg-tray 9, cleats 16 are provided, andthese afford means for supporting a non-permeable or non-ventilatingscreen 17, the said screen comprising a rectangular frame 18. The cleats16 are preferably on a level with the door 8, so that the screen 17 maybe conveniently removed, if desired. If desired,'how ever, the screencan be permanently fixed in position. This screen extends to the sidewalls of the incubator-body and const tutes a diaphragm, completelycutting off ventilation or air circulation between the spaces above andbelow the same. For this purpose the screen is preferably formed ofcardboard, parchment, sheet metal, or similar material non-permeable byair-currents.

Although I prefer to cutoff the heating-air in the upper part of theincubator in the manner suggested, I provide means for opening.commumcation when desired between the nially closed by a slide 20, (seeFig. 3,) the said slide having openings 20 ,'which may register with theaforesaid openings 19. By

- shown.

It will be evident that the diaphragm 17 effectively divides the spacewithin the incubator into a heating-space above and an eg chamber below.Just above the screen 17 a plurality of horizontal ventilating tubes orpipes 21 are provided. As shown in Fig. 2, these are preferably four innumber and they extend longitudinally of the incubator, as indicated inFig. 1. open and pass through the end, walls of the body, communicatingwith the outer air, as In the under sides of these tubes, which he veryclose to the screen 17 perforations or openings 22 are provided, andthese openings are disposed a slight distance apart throughoutsubstantially the entire length of the tubes within the body. I

Just beneath the screen 17 ventilatingpipes 21 are arranged in theegg-chamber, and these pipes are similar to the pipes 21 alreadydescribed. Similar pipes 21 are arranged in the corners at the bottom ofthe egg-chamber. These pipes all have perforations 21 similar to theperforations 22'of the pipes 21. All of these pipes pass through thewalls of the incubator and have their ends normally closed by pivoteddampers 21.

Evidently by opening or partially opening,

certain of these dampers the character of the ventilation may beregulated as desired. The incubator-bottom 23 is formed of a rectangularframe covered above and below by sheets 24 of a suitable fabric, such asflannel. Preferably at the rear side this frame is attached by hinges 25to the body, which enable the same to be let down when desired to removechicks from the lower portion 26 of the incubator, which constitutes anursery. Turn-buttons 27 afford means for supporting the forward edge ofthe frame, as indicated in Fig. 2.

While I prefer to locate the perforated tubes at the points indicated,they may be located in any part of the incubator desired. The functionof these ventilating-tubes is to take the air in small quantities fromall portions of the egg-chamber, in this way insuring an evendistribution of the air and avoiding drafts. The presence of the tubes21 enables a large circulation of air in the upper part of theegg-chamber for heating and ventilating purposes without bringing aboutany direct downward current of superheated'air among or to the eggs.Thus the eggs are made to receive their ventilation from the pipes 21and 21 The screen 17, which is disposed above the egg-tray and below thediffuser, shields the eggs from direct heat radiating from the diffuser.

The presence of the cloth frame 14 is advantageous in that it affords abetter support for the eggs than the slats 12 alone. At the same time,while this cloth frame per- Their extremities are,

i ing chamber thereof.

the eggs, it operates also as a screen through which the air percolatesupwardly to the eggs.

If desired, when the eggs are hatching the cloth frame 14 may beremoved, so as to allow the chicks to fall through to the nursery,passing between the slats 12 in their descent. If it seems moredesirable to keep the chicks in the egg-tray immediately after hatching,

the cloth frame 14 would then be left in the position in which it isshown, and it would then constitute a floor upon which the chicks .couldWalk about until they found their way i through to the nursery 26.

In the operation of the incubator it should be understood that thehot-air supply passes up through the jacketed chimney 3 around theheating-flue 4, this air being let into the incubator-body within thediffuser 6 in the manner before described in the patent applicationreferred to above.

The bottom of the incubator, consisting as it does of severalthicknesses of cloth or other porous material, allows plenty ofventilation to the eggs from below as well as from above. The perforatedventilating-tubes in connection with the warm air supply constitute anarrangement for rendering the quantity of air supplied substantiallyuniform, overcoming the defect of some incubators, which tend to supplyan increased quantity of air when the air of the surrounding room is ofan unusually low temperature.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I illustrate a modified construction in which there isno communication between the heating-chamber and the eggspace, and inthis construction the flue carrying the gases of combustion from thelamp does not pass completely through the body of the incubator, butdischarges into the heat- The details of this modified construction willnow be described. I provide a body 30 similar in form to the body usedin the preferred form. At a suitable point on the side walls 31 Iprovide longitudinally-disposed cleats 32. On the end walls 33corresponding cleats 34 are provided, which are preferably curved, asshown, having convex sides disposed downwardly. These cleats 32 and 34afford means for supporting a diaphragm 35, which is preferably of sheetmetal, such as steel or galvanized iron, the same beingattached at itsedges to a frame 36, adapted to rest upon the upper side of the cleats,as indicated. Above the diaphragm 35 the side walls 31 are lined ontheir interior with asbestos 37 or similar nonconducting material, whichaffords protec tion for the wood. The incubator comprises an inner cover38, which is depressed below the main cover 39 of the incubator-body, asshown, the inner face of the inner cover 38 being lined with asbestos ora similar non-conductor 38 like the side walls 31. In this way betweenthe inner cover 38 and the diathe eggspace 49 therebelow.

phragm a heating-chamber is formed, heat being supplied to theheating-chamber 40 through a lamp-chimney 41, disposed at the side ofthe incubator, as shown, and this chimney is surrounded by a suitablejacket 42, The chimney 41 communicates with a horizontal flue 43, whichpasses into the heating-chamber, so as to discharge the heated gasesfrom the lamp within the same. The jacket 42 communicates with a hot-airduct or pipe 44, in which the flue 43 is located, which pipe 44 extendshorizontally into the heating-chamber in such a way that the heated airwhich rises in the jacket 42 will also be delivered within the interiorof the incubatorbody. In this way two heated currents are constantlydelivered to the heating-chamber when the incubator is in operation. Iprovide a diffuser 45, which is generally similar in construction to thedifluser described in connection with the preferred form, consisting ofa tubular sleeve of enlarged diameter which is open at its ends andwhich is telescoped over the extremities of the flue 43 and the air-duct44. The mouths of the flue and air-duct are preferablylocated atsubstantially the middle point of the diffuser, as shown. In this waythe heated currents distribute themselves and pass toward the ends ofthe incubator. The diffuser 45 is preferably supported at itsextremities upon metal straps 46, which are secured to the under side ofthe inner cover 38, as shown. In the lower portion of theheating-chamber 40 and near the diaphragm 35 I provide a plurality ofescape tubes or pipes 47, which lead horizontally, as shown. Theextremities of these pipes projeot through the end walls 33 of theincubator. On their under sides within the heating-chamber they areprovided with openings or perforations 48, through which the heatedgases and air within the heatingchamber may pass, so as to find exit atthe ends of the tubes. There may be as many or as fewof theseescapepipes as desired. In this instance. I illustrate four. Thediaphragm 35 effectually cuts off any communication between theheating-chamber 40 and At a suitable point within the egg-chamber Iprovide an egg-tray of any suitable construction, preferably provided onits under side with a screen 51 similar to the screen 14 hereinbeforementioned. Preferably in the rear wall of the incubatorbody I provideventilating tubes or pipes 52 and 53, the former of which is located inthe upper portion of the eggchamber near the diaphragm 35, theventilating-pipe 53 being preferably located just under the egg-tray andnear the bottom 54 of the incubator. These pipes 52 are provided withopenings or perforations 55, and their extremities are covered bymovable dampers or shutters 56. With this arrangement the ventilationand temperature of the egg-chamber 49 may be accurately regulated. Theusual door 57 is provided at the front of the incubator-body and enablesaccess to be had to the egg-chamber. The purpose of the curved form ofthe diaphragm 35 is to. prevent any sudden upward movement of thediaphragm due to the violent closing of the door 57. Such a movement asthis occurs unless a special provision is made to prevent it,

and when it does occur it results in producing a sudden back draft inthe flue 43 and in the lamp-chimney, which puts out the lamp. Inpractice the covers 38 and 39 in this form of the invention arepreferably made removable.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An incubator having a plurality of substantiallyhorizontal ventilating-tubes open at their extremities and communicatingwith the outer air near the level of the floor of said incubator,whereby an inflow of air is promoted, said tubes having perforations onthe under sides thereof communicating with the interior of theincubator.

2. In an incubator in combination, an eggtray and a plurality ofventilating-tubes disposed just above said egg-tray and havingperforations through which the air within said incubator may passoutwardly.

3. An incubator having ventilating-tubes passing through the wallsthereof having perforations communicating with the interior ofsaid'incubator and having dampers closing the ends of said pipes.

4. A11 incubator having an egg-chamber, a heating-chamb er, a non-permeable diaphragm separating said chambers, and ventilatingtubesdisposed respectively in said chambers having open extremities passingthrough the walls of said incubator and havin perforations communicatingwith the interior of said incubator.

5. In an incubator in combination, abody having a heating-chamber and anegg-chamber separated therefrom, a chimney adapted to receive a lamp andhaving a flue delivering the gases of combustion from said lamp into thesaid heating-chamber, and a jacket surrounding said chimney and having aduct communicating therewith adapted to deliver hot air to the interiorof said heating-chamber, and ventilating-tubes leading from the saidheating-chamber.

6. An incubator having a body, a curved transverse impermeable diaphragmthe edges whereof touch the side walls of said body dividing the sameinto an egg-chamber and a heating-chamber, said diaphragm having itsconvex side toward said egg-chamber, and a lamp adapted to deliverheated ases to the interior of the said heating-cham er.

7. In an incubator, in combination, a body having a heating chamber inthe upper portion thereof, an egg-chamber therebelow,

IIO

a diaphragm cutting ofl communication be tween said chambers, means fordelivering gases of combustion from a lamp and means for delivering hotair to said heating-chamber,

[ In testimony whereof I have signed my I 5 escape-tubes passing throughsaid heatingl/Vitnesses:

name to this specification in the presence of two subscrlbmg Witnesses.

GEORGE HOWARD LEE.

chamber and leading to the outer air, and NED PETTIT, ventilating-tubesWithin said egg-chamber. STELLA CHASE.

